Myrtle Beach Massage Therapy

Myrtle Beach is in the fall season now, and as the tourist season slows down, we now welcome our golfers to the Grand Strand. I can’t believe another summer has come and gone here in Myrtle Beach, and we sure have had an interesting year with the destructive flooding across our state. It makes me so proud to see all of us South Carolinians pull together and give each other a hand up in all of this devastation. If you are a local here, or are looking for Myrtle Beach Massage therapy while on vacation, please feel free to give me a call to book an appointment. I have been a professionally licensed massage therapist in Myrtle Beach for 7 years now, with the majority of my post graduate training in Sports Massage, Sports Injury massage therapy, and Deep Tissue Massage. If you are genuinely looking for one of the best massage sessions of your life, do yourself a favor and give me a call. I book 7 days a week from 9 AM to 7 PM, and conveniently travel to my clients location with a top of the line massage table, linens and all products needed for the service.

Feel free to Google ‘Myrtle Beach Massage Therapy – Michaels Massage’ to read my many reviews that speaks volumes for my knowledge and expertise in Massage therapy. Looking forward to meeting some great folks and sharing my experience in Massage.

Myrtle Beach Massage Therapy

Battle At The Beach!

For the second year in a row, I have been asked to bring my sports massage skills to the ‘Battle At The Beach’ National cheer leading competition held at The Convention Center here in Myrtle Beach. It was again an amazing experience to meet so many coaches and staff members that make this event possible, and with around 500 different cheer leading teams competing for this event, I saw first hand the amount of stress and anxiety that came with it. These amazing cheer leading teams are in a National competition that brings a $50,000 purse to the winning team, so the tension was high, as well as the tension of muscle tissue on the coaching staff! I hope that each and every staff member during this event left my table a bit more relaxed and refreshed. And I look forward to next year in sharing my gift of massage to this great sporting event that is Battle At The Beach!

Battle At The Beach!

Deceptions within the Massage Industry

I’d like to take a moment to discuss deceptions within the massage industry. I have been a professional massage therapist for nearly 8 years now, and have seen so many different alternative therapies trying to basically hitch hike on the shoulders of the massage industry, that it is time to clarify what I deem to be no more than smoke and mirror deception. There is a vast amount of the populace that looks to massage therapy and practitioners as professional alternative medicine care givers and authorities on the modalities they practice. But what is being practiced and passed off as effective alternative medicine?

Number one on my list of deceptions within the massage industry. ‘Ion detoxification‘. This therapy involves having the client place his/her feet in a warm foot bath. An electronic device is placed in the water, along with some sort of minerals and salt. As the electronic mechanism is activated, a myriad of frothy sludge starts to form on top of the water. A color coded chart is then shown to the client to inform them, according to the color of the sludge being formed on the water, as to what internal organs are being drained of toxins. The truth? The electronic device will always have on it, or within the mechanism, a slab of metal, normally copper, that reacts with the salt, an electrical charge, and the mineral combination with water, to instantly form oxides, or to put it simply, rust.

This bogus therapy has been debunked many times, yet I still see it within the massage industry, and is used in many spas to extract as much cash from the client, without any benefit to them. If anything, I can only hope the client will eventually find they have been duped by that particular spa pushing this snake oil and will eventually find a spa that takes a professional western approach to massage therapy.

Number 2 on my list of deceptions within the massage industry. ‘Ear candling‘. Ear candling is promoted as a therapy that involves lighting a hollow bees wax candle and placing it within the ear. This therapy claims that a combination of heat and the dismal vacuum that it creates to once again “pull toxins from the body”. The therapist will, once the candle is burned down sufficiently enough, cut open the candle and reveal all of the “toxins” that were pulled out of the ear. This therapy has also been debunked by the science community, yet it is still practiced in many spas. The residue in the candle that has been cut open will reveal? You guessed it, more wax that has collected at the bottom of the candle, as well as some discoloration due to the smoke vortex that was active while the candle burned. The truth is that the candles do not produce enough of a vacuum to pull anything out of the ear, nor any other toxin in the body. If anything, you may have wax from the candle embed deep in your ear canal, which will inevitably have you see a doctor to remedy what the candling did in the first place. This is another bogus therapy hitch hiking on the shoulders of the massage industry, and should be avoided.

Number 3 on my list of deceptions within the massage industry, and probably the most damaging of all out of the three I am discussing here. ‘Reiki‘. Ahhh yes, Reiki, the mystical therapy that heals without even touching the client. Seems like magic to me, and as we all know, magic is an illusion. No doubt our brains are more capable of healing the body than we know at this stage of human development and evolution, and we know the placebo effect can sometimes bring on astonishing results in people overcoming illness, but I think perhaps a sugar pill may be just as effective, and definitely less expensive, than a regimen of reiki sessions . A practitioner of reiki will claim to transfer healing energy to the client without touching them while in meditation. It was developed in Japan by a Buddhist practitioner in 1922, and has since been altered into many different forms of reiki, with the practitioner reaching higher levels of training just as someone who meditates frequently reaches deeper levels of relaxation. I would even suggest the practice of reiki may actually only be beneficial to the practitioner themselves, as they practice this form of meditation frequently. This therapy can be damaging to someone who truly needs medical care from a physician, but choose this alternative therapy in hopes of some mystical medicine that will heal their medical problems. It is an extremely expensive therapy for a practitioner to attain a license for, and as massage therapists are required to receive continued education every 2-4 years, the classes for becoming a reiki practitioner are highly marketed, yet proven to be just another pseudoscience that shows no benefit to a client.

I would suggest anyone that is curious about reiki, to do their own research and find it truly is just another lie hitchhiking on the back of the massage industry. In my opinion, a daily self affirmation and meditation, with focus on being a better person, a more positive person, will have a greater result than a reiki practitioner can provide.

Deep Tissue VS. Sports Massage

Deep Tissue VS. Sports Massage ? What’s the difference? With so many different massage modalities out there, it can be a bit confusing to know what your body needs, and when it needs it. Deep tissue massage is the manipulation of muscles with firm to extra firm pressure, and often focusing on specific muscles or muscle groups due to trigger points, or knots, in the muscles, as well as relaxing muscles that have seized up to guard injured areas. Sports massage is a vigorous massage that includes deep tissue massage techniques, but also incorporates a balanced amount of muscular stretching. I often perform 2 types of sports massage on clients during events here in Myrtle beach, as we have a marathon here mid February coming up. A pre and post sports massage is often requested during these events, and although quite similar in nature, I tend to do a lot more post sports stretching on clients. After running 26 miles, the hamstrings and adductor muscles seem to be the most issue, and so I tend to perform a good amount of slow, methodical stretching in order to induce relaxation in the muscle fibers and surrounding tissue. I also tend to infuse a lot of Lymphatic massage techniques as well to promote flushing the body and lymph system.

If you’re looking for a well rounded and competent massage therapist in Myrtle Beach/North Myrtle Beach that knows his trade well, please give me a call 7 days a week to book an appointment. I conveniently travel to your location with a comfortable massage table, linens, and all products needed for the session. Looking forward to the session! 843-492-1764

Deep Tissue VS. Sports Massage

Massage gift certificates

Christmas is just around the corner, and what better way to treat a loved one during the Holidays than an amazing massage! I have 7 years experience as a licensed massage therapist in Myrtle Beach, and have become a master at my craft as a body worker. With several years experience working in 5 Star resort spas in Myrtle Beach, I set out 3 years ago to operate my own massage business, and have continued to strive to be the best massage therapist I can be. My Google reviews, as well as reviews across the web speak volumes for my expertise as a therapeutic body worker, with emphasis on deep tissue and sports massage, but I am well versed in relaxation massage as well. Please visit my website to read more about my path as a massage therapist, along with my expert training and experience. You can download and print massage gift certificates from my website, or simply call me to consult and set up a gift massage for your loved one. I am truly gifted in massage therapy and body work, and implore you to book an appointment and see for yourself the difference a truly World Class massage therapist has to offer. I look forward to helping you relax, as well as heal! Happy Holidays!

Fall Massage Discount

Welcome snow birds and winter vacationers alike to Myrtle Beach this year! I hope you all had safe travels on the way here. I am offering a Fall Massage Discount in Myrtle Beach this year and hope many take advantage of this great offer. 90$ for a 90 minute massage session(+10 travel fee), or book a 60 minute massage session for 70$ with no travel fee within a 5 mile/5 minute radius in the central Myrtle Beach area. My reviews speak for my professionalism, knowledge, and expertise, and I implore you to book an appointment with me and see the difference a world class therapist has to offer. I look forward to this winter season in Myrtle Beach, as well as helping you relax and heal. Michael Champagne LMT.

Hospice Massage

Once again, I feel compelled to blog about a recent client I had a massage session with. I received a call last week by a woman who was dealing with her aging parents, one of whom was under hospice care at home. She asked if I would be available to travel to thier home, as both parent were immobile, and relied heavily on a home care nurse to help them move about, as well as the normal daily functions most of us are fortunate enough to take care of ourselves. I agreed to visit them at a convenient time in the morning just after breakfast, and just before nap time. I arrived at the house just a few minutes early to greet the couple and talk to them about why I was there, and then prepared some light emollients for the massage. There was no need for a massage table, nor linens, or talk of problem areas and amounts of pressure. Joe and his wife were both nearing 90 years old, and they simply needed some healing therapeutic touch. When I say healing, I do mean mentally and spiritually…. their bodies were frail, their skin nearly translucent and quite fragile, and there was not much more I could do, than to try and comfort them while they sat back in recliner chairs. Joe was my first client, as the hospice nurse told me he was soon to take a nap, and so I began. I started with a nice soothing hand massage, and never have I had to be more delicate with a client than I had been with Joe. Due to age, as well as medicines he was on, his skin was so thin it was obvious too much friction or pressure were to have injured him. I carefully massaged his palms, as well as some light circumduction on his joints to help ease the discomfort of the rheumatoid arthritis entangled in his fingers. I finished with the hand massage, and then stood behind him as I lightly worked his shoulders and neck area. When I worked on Joe, I simply opened my heart as I did light compressions on his back and neck. I could only think of one thing, what if this were my father in his last days, and how much healing love I would want to gift him. The session was quite silent except for the faint sounds of relief coming from Joe as I continued the massage. A couple of times during the session Joe and I bantered a bit about women, where our families were from, just simple conversation, but enough of a connection to have made a friend. I finished the massage, and left Joe to relax while he watched his sermons on TV with some random pastor, but I imagine if we wonder about God and if there is anything after this life, it surely would be while under hospice care and on the way out of this world. Joes wife, Dotty, was next for her massage session. Just a couple of years younger than Joe, and suffering from a bit of dementia, there Dotty sat with a big smile on her face. I could not help but mirror her smile. To be in their position and to smile through it all, I can only imagine how much inner strength and heart this couple had in order to deal with their situation, but I imagine dementia helps you to forget the misery you might be enduring with as well…. life is sometimes so comical and cruel at the same time. I finished my session with the lovely couple, and then kneeled down beside Joe just for a moment to talk to him and say goodbye. “I hope I helped you relax a bit Joe, it was a pleasure to meet you, and I wish you well on your journey.” Joe softly nodded his head, and his eyes told me he felt a little better. I thanked the hospice nurse for her help, and gathered my gear and left, a bit saddened at what that couple and their family was going through, as well as being in deep thought that one day, my family, myself and loved ones, may very well be in this same position. And then the call came the next day… it was Joe’s daughter who called me for the sessions… she sounded a bit distraught, and said something that still makes my heart sink to think about. “I think you were an Angel Michael, and I thank you for helping my dad pass away peacefully. My dad took a nap right after the massage and passed away shortly after you left.” And then she began to cry, and as much as I tried to keep my composure, I felt an apple in my throat, and a tear down my face. I think I am supposed to feel fortunate to have a gift of touch that can help someone let go of their pain, to relax and give up the ghost so to speak if it is their time, but I became a massage therapist to help heal people, and slowly learning over time I’ve become much more than that. Rest in peace Joe… rest in peace my friend.

Mobile Massage

Are you vacationing in Myrtle Beach this fall?? Are you a Myrtle Beach local that is still in search of a fantastic massage therapist? I’ve talked to so many clients that feel they have thrown money away when visiting local day spas. Clients often complain they have booked a deep tissue massage at a local spa due to back pain or muscular injury, and end up receiving little more than a Swedish massage with little to no decrease in the pain they were dealing with originally. Unfortunately I feel a lot of therapists in the massage industry have either lost their passion for the healing arts, or have become too comfortable in a day spa setting where the establishment focuses on pampering clients with relaxation massage, while failing to hire therapists that have extensive knowledge in Deep tissue massage and neuromuscular massage when dealing with chronic back and neck pain, as well as sports injury. I have years of experience working in 5 Star resort spas, I have extensive training in many of the modern European and new age spa treatments, but I have also maintained my desire as well as post graduate continued education in the field of sports injury and sports massage, with focus on Deep tissue massage techniques and trigger point therapy.

If you are looking for a world class massage therapists, that is well rounded and trained in the full gamut of spa treatments as well as massage for chronic pain, I ask that you give me a call to book an appointment. I travel to you while you relax in your vacation getaway, and my scheduling is very flexible. Mobile massage with one of the top rated, and only 5 Star rated massage therapist on Google in the Myrtle Beach area, I look forward to helping you relax as well as heal. Michaels Massage – Myrtle Beach Massage – 843-492-1764

Mobile Massage

Massage and Cancer

I feel compelled to write about massage and cancer for a few days now. I’m not speaking about aiding recovery with therapeutic touch, Far from it. Modern medicine has made leaps and bounds in fighting and winning against cancer, and as a massage therapist who takes a modern and westernized approach to body work, I would never make claims that massage can battle cancer. I’m talking about the healing and soothing touch of massage with someone dealing with terminal cancer under the care of hospice.

This is for CJ, the quickest friend I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She was courageous, she was beautiful, still young and full of life, and dieing. “I have terminal cancer” she said, as I stood at the foot of the bed surrounded by her sister and husband. They were all smiling, and joking, and excited to see me. I have dealt with a lot of different people, with a lot of different problems, and gifted to help many of them recover from what ails them. But CJ…. I could not. I could not help her, I could not heal her, but I could be there to make her feel better for a little while. Her sister jokingly said, “I think this is the first time your husband won’t mind you sharing the bed with another man CJ”, and we all chuckled… but CJ was bed ridden, her muscular atrophy was severe, and she was unable to move herself around any more. So carefully we positioned her as needed, as I crawled around the bed to work in each area. CJ was such a courageous woman, as I suppose we will all need to be one day when faced with our demise, and she said to me, “I’ve said my peace and I’m ready to go, but stuff like this, an awesome massage, ohh this is the stuff I’ll miss”. At that point I felt a knot the size of a golf ball in my throat, and near difficult to fight back my tears, but I was surround by such brave people that refused to mourn the end….. but I’m sure they knew I felt the loss that they are enduring.

Massage and cancer go hand in hand if for anything, because one of the most memorable things we take with us is the loving touch of another human being when we say good bye. I’m writing this as CJ’s last days are coming soon, as she stopped eating 27 days ago today, but before I left, she told me “If I’m alive next week, I’m going to call you again”, And I truly hope I can see my friend again. Rest in peace CJ (Washington DC Baby!)

Massage and Cancer

Sports Massage|Myrtle Beach

Call now to book with one of the top rated Sports massage therapists in Myrtle Beach, SC. I have been a professionally licensed massage therapist for 7 years now, with the majority of my post graduate training in sports massage to aid in the recovery of sports related injury. We have many athletic venues in Myrtle Beach, with golf being the leader, as well as many marathon and bicycling events that unfortunately cause muscular trauma to the lower back and shoulder areas often. If you are seeking a professional massage therapist in Myrtle Beach that is experienced in relaxation massage as well as deep tissue and the treatment of muscle injury, please give me a call to book your massage session. Same day appointments, and I travel to you with all needed equipment. I offer a wide variety of massage services, as well as body scrub add on and mud treatments.